Axia Leadership Team

Axia’s leadership team believes that technology can open a world of opportunity.

As a team of industry experts they are dedicated to providing high-performing services that push beyond our customers’ expectations.

Arthur R. Price

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Art Price serves as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Axia NetMedia. As well, he is an owner and director of the Sunterra Group of companies.

Born and raised in Alberta, Art has always brought a global outlook to the businesses in which he is involved. He founded Axia in 1995 with a vision to create a company that would meet the full spectrum of Internet Protocol-based communications needs for businesses and consumers.

Until 1995, he held the position of special advisor to Li Ka-Shing, chairman of the board of Hutchison Whampoa Ltd., focusing on international investments. Prior to joining Hutchison Whampoa Ltd., he served as president and chief executive officer of Husky Oil from 1984 - 1993. He has held several senior executive positions in the energy, petro-mechanical and pipeline sectors, and has been a director of international companies in the oil and gas, steel, gold, farm genetics, and agricultural production and processing sectors.

Art is a graduate of the University of Alberta with a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering, and is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA).

In 2011, Art was presented with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Prairies Region Technology category), an award for demonstrating high standards, perseverance, and independent, innovative thinking.

Alan Hartslief

Chief Financial Officer

Alan Hartslief brings his international experience with American and European capital markets to Axia, as well as an outstanding track record in establishing and maintaining high-quality internal controls, transparent financial reporting, strategic business planning, and optimizing global processes.

He is a Chartered Accountant who was previously CFO for Terra Nova Royalty Corp. (formerly KHD Humboldt Wedag), a global company which operated in the industrial plant engineering and equipment, and mineral royalty sectors. Prior to that he was with Ciba Specialty Chemicals for ten years where he held several positions with increasing executive responsibilities including CFO-NAFTA Region.

Robert Price

VP, Services

Robert Price, born and raised in Alberta, has always had a keen interest in entrepreneurship and innovation. Robert graduated with honours from Pacific University with a degree in Entrepreneurship and Economics as a Student-Athlete, playing NCAA Division 1 tennis.

Robert started his career with Axia working on strategic initiatives and new business avenues. He was also a key contributor on the Global Business Development team, supporting substantial wins in Singapore, Spain, and the United States. Following his pursuit of international business, he focused his efforts on strategic initiatives in Alberta including SuperNet extension negotiations and creating new services, significantly growing Axia’s business in Alberta. Robert is currently the executive lead of Axia’s emerging Enterprise and Residential Services across North America.

Dean Tremaine

VP, Networks

Dean Tremaine and his team are responsible for building out, evolving, and operating Axia’s net generation communications network to meet the evolving needs of current and future customers. Dean is passionate about helping customers leverage their investment in technology to drive business results. Dean joined Axia with more than 26 years of software, hardware, and systems engineering experience in the telecommunications and oilfield service sectors. Prior to joining Axia, Dean served on the leadership team of Pason Systems in the roles of VP Product Management & CTO and Head of Research and Development. Prior to that, Dean worked for a number of years at Nortel developing wireless products, most recently building and leading a large software development and systems design team in China. Dean’s career at Nortel also included senior technical and project leadership positions in Calgary, USA, and France. Dean has also held engineering positions with NovAtel Communications and TransAlta Utilities.

Dean is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Calgary.

Lindsay Skabar

VP, Marketing & Communications

Lindsay Skabar is responsible for Axia’s Marketing and Communications initiatives in North America. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Bishops University, Lindsay began her career at Axia on the Global Business Development team, leading the creation of RFPs to governments around the world. She has fostered relationships with partners and local governments to help with the understanding and application of Axia’s unique business model.

Lindsay understands the importance of strategic communications, cleverly crafting Axia’s messaging to meet the needs of each specific customer. Her work, and specifically her volunteer initiatives, have taken her all over the world where she worked on the Thai/Burma boarder teaching and writing proposals for orphaned Burmese children. Locally, Lindsay serves as Chair of the board for Branch Out Neurological Foundation, focussed on accelerating tech solutions and non-pharmaceutical approaches for neurological disorders. Lindsay is extremely passionate about providing the basics to everyone regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic status.

Erin Basarsky

VP, Finance & Control

Erin Basarsky leads the finance, human resource and financial I.T. functions at Axia. Her technical expertise and reporting knowledge are underpinned with significant team leadership and process optimization experience.

Erin has provided financial diligence and guidance in a number of mergers and acquisitions as well as large scale complex change initiatives. Her passion is building teams and developing people that are fully integrated and adding practical value to the business.

As a Chartered Accountant Erin holds a Masters of Professional Accounting from the University of Saskatchewan. Erin previously held multiple senior financial positions at Newalta, a TSX listed company operating in the environmental oil and gas services segment, prior to that she was a senior member of the Deloitte Calgary Audit and Assurance group. Erin studied International Finance and Economics at the University of Amsterdam.

Since early 2015, Erin has been a signature volunteer, helping organize multiple fundraising events including Unicef’s Water for Life Gala in Calgary.